Switch



1957 J. A. A. WEAVER 2,816,182

SWITCH Filed June 19, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

fitted States Patent SWITCH John A. A. Weaver, Agawam, Mass.

Application June 19, 1956, Serial No. 592,410

1 Claim. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to switch mechanism for connecting in a plurality of different circuits.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to i the provision of switch mechanism for the selective control of a desired independent circuit.

According to novel features of the invention, a plurality of independent separate contacts are provided with which a switch arm may be moved into and out of contact in combination with a group of separate contacts and a means operable by said switch arm for simultaneously contacting or connecting all of the contacts of said group thereof.

According to one novel arrangement of the invention, each of the separate contacts may be connected to a certain circuit. Each said circuit may, for instance, include a predetermined number of lights in a certain location or locations. The switch arm is so connected to a source of energy, or will be termed as hot that, in engagement with a certain one of said independent contacts, the circuit including said contact is energized. By swinging the switch arm, any one of the separate contacts may be engaged thereby. Thus it is possible to selectively energize one of the various circuits including the independent or separate contact.

The contacts of the group thereof are connected to the independent contacts. Means in the form of an elongated leaf is arranged to contact all of the contacts of the group thereof. The switch arm is operable to actuate said leaf into engagement with the contacts of the group thereof whereby all of the circuits, including the independent contacts are energized.

Certain of the independent contacts may be connected to certain contacts of the group thereof so that the latter may be connected to a remotely located switch device whereby, through the switch arm in contact with an independent, the circuit thereof may be controlled remotely.

The mechanism of the invention is compact in form so as to occupy small space and has many and various uses where it is desired to control independent circuits or a plurality of circuits.

There may be changes and modifications in switch mechanism embodying the features thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein in the form at present preferred and illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is plan view of a switch device embodying the novel features of the invention with the manually operable member and plate thereof omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch device shown in Fig. l with parts thereof in section for clearness and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing connections between the contacts of the switch device.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the novel features of the invention will be fully explained.

A base or support is shown at 2 which will be formed from insulating material and of such dimensions as may be secured in a wall box or the like.

2,816,182 Patented Dec. 10, 1957 The upper face of the support is provided with a plurality of separate and independent contacts 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 which are circumferentially spaced, as shown. Said contacts are adapted to receive bus-bars.

A group of contacts 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are arranged circumferentially and each of said contacts are adapted to receive bus-bars. For this purpose the lower ends of all of the contacts are provided with an opening, such as 28, in which the end of a bus-bar may be inserted. A screw 30 in threaded engagement with the contact lower end serves to bind a bus-bar in the opening 28.

A contactor 32 has an end secured to the upper face of the support as by screws 34 or the like and extends upwardly and over the group of contacts 16 to 26.

Said contactor or leaf 32 will be formed from relatively thin metal and while normally out of engagement with the contacts of the group thereof it is resilient or yieldable downwardly for contact therewith.

A shaft 34 is rotatable in the support and has lock nuts 36 in threaded engagement with the lower end thereof. Said shaft extends upwardly in a central hub 3 of the support.

A connecting member 38 has an inner end 38' around the upper portion of the hub 3 out of contact with the shaft 34. The outer end 40 of member 38 may be connected to a source of energy so that it may be called hot. A metal washer 42 is disposed on the member 38.

A switch arm 44 has a lower portion 46 around the upper end of hub 3 which is bent upwardly at 48 to an upper portion 50 extending downwardly at 52 to a lower contact engaging outer end 54. The portion 46 is not in contact with shaft 34.

A ceramic bushing 56 around the shaft 34 is disposed within an opening 58 of the upper portion 50 of the switch arm and has keys 60 in suitable notches, of said portion 50, as shown. The shaft 34 is provided with keys or splines 62, as shown, which are seated in the member 56.

As the shaft 34 is rotated the member 56 is rotated thereby and as a consequence the switch arm is rotated by member 56.

The switch arm is formed of relatively thin resilient metal so that the outer end 54 thereof will yieldingly engage the independent contacts or the leaf contactor 32.

A plate 66 is provided which may carry indicia corresponding or related to the contacts. A manually engageable member 68 secured to the upper end of the shaft facilitates rotation of the shaft and has a pointer 70 for indexing with the before mentioned indicia of the plate.

The contacts 4 to 14 are connected by bus-bars 72, 74, 76, 78, and 82 to the contacts 16 to 26 of the group thereof as indicated in Fig. 3. Said bus-bars will be relatively insulated. The connections between the contacts may be arranged as desired. I

The contacts 4 to 14 may be connected in different circuits such as for instance light circuits with various numbers of lights therein and in various locations. The switch arm being hot when engaged with a certain of the contacts will energize the circuit selected. Thus it is possible to select the circuit desired by moving the switch arm to the contact desired.

The switch arm 52 being resilient it may be rotated onto the contact leaf 32 so that the contacts 16 and 26 are engaged by the leaf whereby circuits connected to the contacts 4 to 14 will be energized.

It will be desired that certain of the contacts 4 to 14 be connected to certain contacts 16 to 26 of the group thereof whereby a circuit including those contacts of the group may be connected to a remotely located switch device so that when closed it will energize a circuit including the switch arm and that contact 4 to 14 with which it is energized.

The independent contacts and those of the group may be connected in various ways for various purposes, all as may be desired.

The switch arm 52 may be rotated in opposite direc tions for contacting with any one of the contacts 4 to 14 inc., and may be swung in one direction for engaging the leaf 32 into contact with the contacts 16 to 26. The leaf 32 at the extremity thereof is provided with an upstanding stop 32 which is engageable by the outer end of arm 52 as said arm is rotated in said one direction to limit rotation thereof in said one direction.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the form of the mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

Switch mechanism comprising in combination, a support having an upper and a lower face, a plurality of separate independent contacts circumferentially spaced on said upper face, a group of relatively spaced contacts disposed circumferentially on said face, an elongated resilient leaf having an inner end fixed to said upper face having a free end circumferentially extending over the contacts of the group thereof, said leaf being normally out of engagement with said contacts and being yieldable downwardly into contact therewith, a shaft rotatable in said support on an axis at right angles to said upper face, a switch arm rotatable with said shaft having an outer end for selectively engaging said independent contacts or engaging said leaf to depress it into engagement with said contacts of the group thereof, means for connecting said switch arm to a source of energy, said switch arm being engageable with said independent contacts on rotation thereof in opposite directions and engageable with said leaf in rotation thereof in one direction, and the free end of said leaf at the extremity thereof having an upwardly extending stop engageable by said switch arm to limit rotation of said arm in said one direction.

FOREIGN PATENTS France May 9, 1927 

